Domestic Harmony’s Prevention Education Program Coordinator Nichole Dunlop said the staff and board would like to thank the Hillsdale County Community Foundation for their work in helping to secure this funding for the agency.

The amounts include $500 for the V.C and $500 for the Velma Knight Memorial funds and $2,000 for the Healthy Senior/Healthy Youth Endowment Fund. While the former two are to benefit residents and victims of abuse in Hillsdale County, the latter focuses on prevention education.

Dunlop presents education programs to ninth- and tenth-grade students throughout the county on topics including domestic violence, healthy and unhealthy relationships, gender roles and how they all play into domestic violence.

“This program is vital in helping break the cycle of violence through education and awareness,” Dunlop said. “Numbers from last year’s stats for the high school year include 296 affected by domestic violence in Hillsdale County.”

Dunlop reported that 51 percent of those said they had witnessed teen violence, 28 percent said they had domestic violence in their homes and 15 percent said they were victims of teen dating violence.

“Through these contributions, Domestic Harmony can continue to provide Hillsdale County residents with supportive services for those affected by domestic violence,” Dunlop said.

All services are free and confidential.

Victims can call the toll-fee crisis phone line 24 hours a day at 1-888-439-1454. For more information about Domestic Harmony, go to www.domesticharmony.org.